Friday and I need a laugh

This is from AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com.

The caption says "The cat is thinking of entering him in more shows."

That's all. It just makes me laugh.

Green Eyed Monster

How do you handle disappointment? This has been the issue at our house this week, as my very talented daughter did NOT get the part she was hoping for in her high school musical. She did get a part, but a fairly minor one.

In talking to her I realize that I still struggle with envy when I don't get what I want, and someone else does. Envy is probably the most insidious of those darn deadly sins, and one that sneaks up on me in unexpected ways.

How long to you wallow in self-pity? How much to you pretend to the outside world that you are not hurt? How soon before a person needs to just snap out of it?

I'm glad I have a teen who is helping me grow up.

9/11, part 2

I'm listening to a recorded version of "Falling Man" by Don deLillo. More fodder for my 9/11 ruminations . . . .

9/11

Today is nothing like September 11 8 years ago, but I can't stop thinking about that day, nonetheless. Instead of crystal clear blue skies, today's skies are grey and saturated with rain.

As I was listening to the "moment of silence" on the radio, I wondered why that big ugly hole is still in lower Manhattan, much the same as when I saw it in 2005. My friend Becky posted a link from the Huffington Post with similar sentiments:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-rieckhoff/eight-years-later-why-is_b_283037.html

and then I read the New York Times editorial:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/11/opinion/11fri4.html?th&emc=th

It's time to acknowledge in a physical way this tragedy, honor those who died or sacrificed for us, and move on.

New Name, Fresh Start

Since Summer 2009 is officially over, I decided to rename my blog. And what better than a hat-tip to my all-time favorite author, another South Dakota gal, Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Laura and I have much in common.

• We are each one of four sisters in a family. (like "Little Women" too!)

• We both use our maiden names as our middle names.

• We love the wide open skies of Dakota.

The similarities end right about there. I think I'll keep blogging for a while, just to keep fresh and to allow myself to reflect in print.

Happy Autumn!